Inhaled corticosteroids and major cardiovascular events in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background: Whether inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs) reduce major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is debated.

Objectives: To establish, within people with COPD, (1) whether ICS reduced MACE rates (acute coronary syndrome (ACS), heart failure (HF), ischaemic strokes or cardiovascular-specific death) compared with long-acting bronchodilators; and (2) whether drug class, incident usership or patient cardiovascular history influenced the ICS-MACE relationship.

Methods: We conducted a cohort study including patients with COPD in England, using Clinical Practice Research Datalink Aurum data, linked with Hospital Episode Statistics and Office of National Statistics death data, between 1 January 2010 and 31 December 2019.

Estimated prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea by occupation and industry in England: a descriptive study.

Study Objectives: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) can induce excessive sleepiness, causing work-related injuries and low productivity. Most individuals with OSA in the United Kingdom are undiagnosed, and thus, theoretically, workplace screening, might by identifying these individuals improve both their individual health and overall productivity. However, the prevalence of OSA in different workplaces is unclear.

Time trends in the epidemiology of food allergy in England: an observational analysis of Clinical Practice Research Datalink data.

Background: Estimates for the prevalence of food allergy vary widely, with a paucity of data for adults. The aim of this analysis was to report trends in the incidence and prevalence of food allergy in England, using a national primary care dataset.

Methods: We analysed data from Clinical Practice Research Datalink between 1998 and 2018, with linked data to relevant hospital encounters in England.

Risk of cardiovascular events following COVID-19 in people with and without pre-existing chronic respiratory disease.

Background: COVID-19 is associated with cardiovascular outcomes in the general population, but it is unknown whether people with chronic respiratory disease (CRD) have a higher risk of cardiovascular events post-COVID-19 compared with the general population and, if so, what respiratory-related factors may modify this risk in these people.

Methods: Primary and secondary care data from the National Health Service England were used to define a population of adults in England with COVID-19 (index date) between 1 January 2020 and 30 November 2021. Adjusted Cox proportional hazard regression was used to quantify the association between CRD, asthma-related factors, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)-related factors, and risk of cardiovascular events.

Accuracy of the recording of pneumonia events in English electronic healthcare record data in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background: In primary care, identifying pneumonia events in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) may be challenging due to similarities in symptoms with COPD exacerbations and lack of diagnostic testing. This study explored the accuracy of pneumonia diagnosis coded in primary care by comparing diagnosis in primary care with diagnosis in hospital.

Methods: A study population of people with COPD in England was created using the Clinical Practice Research Datalink Aurum database linked with Hospital Episode Statistics inpatient data.